Velocipede or bicycle



3 Sheget s--Sheet 1.

R L O .V E EB Mu RB Km 4 n 00 0 L E (No Model.)

Patented June 6, 1893.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheefg 2. O. KROMER.

VELOGIPBDE 0R BICYCLE.

No. 498,800. Patented June 6,1893.

a Sheets-Sheet 3'. G. KROMER. VBLOGIPBDE 0R BICYCLE.

1 (R0 Model.)

. No. 498,800. Patented June 6, 1893.

I'M: mums RYE GD. momma). Imsmnnmm D. c

UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE.

CAMILLO KROMER, OF ALBANY, NEYV YORK.

VELOCIPEDE OR BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,800, dated June 6,1893. Application filed October 19, 1892. $erial No. 449,387. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, OAMILLO KROMER, of Albany, in the county of Albanyand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inVelocipedes or Bicycles, which is fully set forth in the followingspecification.

This invention has reference to velocipedes or bicycles and particularlyto that class in which the driving wheel is operated by an oscillatin gpedal.

The object of the present invention is theprovision of a clutchmechanism which can be thrown into and out of engagement with thedrive-wheel at the will of the rider, thereby releasing the pedals whichmay be moved to throw a suitable brake into operation. This feature ofthe invention togetherwith other important details of construction maybe fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure I, is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. II, is afront view of the steering wheel. Fig. III, is a vertical section, takenfrom the rear, on line III of Fig. I. Fig. IV, is an enlarged sideelevation of the rackframe. Fig. V, is a detail View of the pedal. Figs.VI, VII and VIII are details of a modification of the rack-bar and pedaltherefor, and Fig. IX, is a perspective View of the spring seat support.

In the drawings A represents the drive or rear wheel, B the front orsteering wheel, 0 the handle bar and D the seat. On each side of thedrive wheel are two parallel bars a between which are clamped the endsof the curved guard a which passes around the upper portion of thewheel. A U-shaped brace a is secured at about its middle to the curvedguard a and extends down on opposite sides of the wheel A, where it isfirmly secured to the parallel bars a. In the brace a just below theupper of parallel bars a are formed bearings for the ends of shaft a ofthe drivewheel. This shaft projects beyond the brace a and carries atits outer ends drive pinions D formed at their inner and outer edgeswith circular flanges d.

Pivoted to the extreme lower ends of the brace a are oscillatoryrack-frames, each consisting of a forwardly extending bare curvedoutwardly and upwardly at its forward end and formed with a slot etherein, a rearwardly extending arm e carrying a brake-shoe e which isadapted to be thrown into contact with flanges cl of drive pinion D, andthe S- shaped rack-bar F, the lower end of which passes through a slotin the end of arm e and which is provided with a lugfheld in engagementwith said arm a by a springf. The forward portion of said rack barpasses through a slot in a guide-arm e and its end engages under theinner end of a pivoted pedal block f Said pedal block is pivoted atabout its middle to the inwardly extending arm f of bar e, which isprovided at its inner end with an upward right angle extension, formedwith a slot f therein. The pedal block has projecting pins f at its endswhich slidingly engage in slots e and J. The end of the rack-barengaging under the pedal block is normally held up and out of engagementwith the pinion D by a spring)" which also serves to hold up the innerend of the pedal-block. Springs f connected at one end with the brace 66and at the other end with the rack-frame serve to normally hold thelatter at the limit of its upward movement and return the same to thatposition at the end of each stroke. Instead of the springs I may use acord 00 (shown in Fig. I) connected to the rack-frames on the oppositesides of the machine and engaging over a pulleyy secured to the guard a.

The back-bone of my machine is preferably formed of the two curvedpieces of wood g, secured at their lower ends between the bars a, curvedforwardly and upwardly, carrying at their upper ends a bearing for thehead or steering rod H of the machine to which is secured the handle bar0.

h represent flat springs, two on each side of the front wheel, havingright angle extensions at their upper ends which are adapted to beclamped between blocks h secured to the lower end of the head orsteering rod H, the lower ends thereof being curved outwardly inopposite directions parallel with the plane of the front wheel.Adjustably secured to the axle or shaft a of the wheel 13 by clamps care curved springs c secured at their extremities to the ends of thecurved lower portions of springs h. This construction allows theadjustment of the front-wheel along the springs 0' thereby compensatingfor unevenness in the tension of the springs. Instead of having the twosprings h on each side of the wheel I may form both springs continuousby joining the right angle extensions, which is probably the preferableconstruction for strength.

The seat support is formed of a double spring 7a and the single springis which passes between the upper portion of the double spring. Theupper ends of both springs are pivotally secured to the ends ofseat-springk to which the seat D is adj ustably clamped.

Instead of the S-shaped rack-bars F and the pinion D, I mayemploy thestrapm (of leather or other sultable material) as shown in Figs. VI andVII,adapted to encircle a dru m M, said strap being divided into twoparts atone end, and secured to the arm 6 passing up, over and aroundthe drum M, the opposite or single end of the strap passing forwardbetween the divided end thereof and under the inner end of pedal block fand is secured to the forwardly extending bracket m on arm f. This strapnormally engages loosely about drum M, but upon the rider pressing downupon the inner end of pedal block f the strap is made taut and grips thedrum.

In operation the rider upon the downward movement of the pedal exertsthe pressure of his foot on the inner end of block f thereby throwingthe gearing into operation and revolving the drive-wheel. When the endof the stroke is reached he shifts the pressure of his foot to theoutside of the block, thereby disengaging the gear and allowing thespring f to return the rack-frame to its normal position. If it is atany time desired to put on the brake it is only necessary to throw thedriving gear out of engagement and force the rack-frame downward untilthe brake-shoe 6 comes into contact with the circular flanges (Z. Bythis construction great power can be applied to the brake-without dangerof 1 springs, and bearings for the steering wheel looping or otherwiseinjuring the tire.

Ido not wish to limit myself to the exact forms of clutch mechanismsshown, as it is obvious that other modifications may be substituted withthe same result.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a velocipede, the combination with the drive-wheel, of a pivoteddriving frame, carrying gearing for connecting said frame with the drivewheel, a pedal-block secured to and movable with reference to saiddriving frame,

and means whereby upon the movement of the pedal-block the gearing maybe thrown into or out of engagement, substantially as ing witnesses.

ward end of the driving frame connected with said rack-bar, whereby thelatter is thrown into and out of engagement with the pinion upon themovement of said pedal-block on its pivot, substantially as described.

3. In a bicycle or velocipede, the combination with the drive-wheel,main frame, and pinion on the axle of the drive-wheel, of a forwardlyextending rack-bar above said pinion, carried by the driving frame, apivoted pedal-block on the forward end of the driving frame, under oneend of which the rackbar engages and means for normally holding therack-bar out of engagement with the pinion on the drive-shaft,substantially as described.

et. In a velocipede the combination with the drive-wheel of a pivoteddriving frame carrying the pedal, driving mechanism for connecting saidframe with the drive-wheel, means 'for throwing said driving mechanisminto and out of engagement with a pinion of the shaft of thedrive-wheel, a flange around the edge of said pinion, and a brake-shoeon the driving frame adapted to .be brought into contact with saidflange, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the steering wheel of a fork comprisingsubstantially parallel springs extending down on opposite sides of saidwheel, and curved outwardly in opposite directions at their lower ends,downwardly curved connecting springs fixed at their ends to the ends ofthe downwardly extending springs, and connections between saidconnecting springs and the steering wheel, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the steering wheel of a fork comprisingsubstantially parallel springs extending down on opposite sides of saidwheel, and curved outwardly in opposite directions at their lower ends,downwardly curved connecting springs fixed at theirends to the ends ofthe downwardly extending adjustable along said connecting springs,substantially as described.

7. The combination with the frame-work and seat, of a seat supportconsisting of an upwardly extending double spring,-a spring passing upbetween the upper portion of said double sprin both of said springsbeing secured at their lower ends to the frame of the machine, and aseat spring to which the seat is clamped, and to the ends of which arepivotally connected the upper ends of the upwardly extending-springs,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- GAMILLO KROMER.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. SANDS, VALENTINE Sets.

too

